TSA Air Safety Travel Tips

TSA would like to help you get through the security checkpoint quickly and have a safe flight to your destination. Our Transportation Security Officers will be working around the clock to provide an efficient security process. We're asking you to become an active partner in your security experience by knowing the rules and carefully packing your carry-on bags.

Pack smart to get through faster. Keep luggage organized by layering items; this will increase visibility for the security officers. When approaching the checkpoint, be prepared. Boarding pass and ID should be ready for inspection, outer garments and shoes must come off, any loose metal items should be placed in your carry-on, and all liquids must come out of bags. All liquids must be kept in the 3-1-1 format unless needed for special medical purposes.

How?

Here's how to SimpliFLY your overall security experience:

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help security officers see what's in your bag.
• Have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection when you get to the checkpoint.
• Remove your coat and shoes and place them in a bin.
• Place any oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in a separate bin. iPods and other smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on bag.
• Follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and put your one quart baggie separately in the bin.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you're not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home. Click here to see the list of prohibited items.

Pack Simply to Fly Through Security

The images below show a group of items packed two ways: the items on the left are packed neatly and the items on the right are loose and cluttered. In these images, you can clearly see what all the items are, but our Transportation Security Officers don't see your bag like this - they see an X-ray image on a screen. And they have to quickly determine if your bag contains a potential threat. You know you're not a threat, but our TSOs don't know you, and seemingly innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they're packed.

We're Here to Help

TSA employees will be out in front of the checkpoint, ready to help you get through the security process. Keeping in mind things that tend to slow down lines, many security officers will give helpful reminders as you go through security. The most common mistakes made at the checkpoint are listed below:

• Not having boarding passes and IDs out for inspection.
• Wearing bulky coats, sweaters and other items that make it difficult for the security officer to screen you properly.
• Wearing shoes or boots with laces or other fasteners that are not easy to remove and put back on.
• Forgetting to take laptops and other oversized electronics out of carry-on bags.
• Forgetting the 3-1-1 rules on liquids, aerosols and gels.
• Forgetting to declare exempt liquids like medicines, breast milk, baby formula and other items.
• Leaving loose change, keys and other metal objects in pockets.
• Bringing gifts that appear on the Prohibited Items list (antique swords and guns, etc.).

If you require any special assistance going through security, please notify a security officer as soon as you enter the checkpoint area.

How You Can Help Us

• Arrive on time. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. A boarding pass and valid government photo ID are required to enter the security checkpoint. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
• Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait to wrap gifts until you're at your destination.
• Pets. Please remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the case through the X-ray machine. Hold your pet in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Children. Please take your infants and children out of baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector.
• Dress the part. Metal in your clothing may set off the screening machines. Pack coins, keys, jewelry, belt buckles and other metal items in your carry-on bag. Remember that all shoes must be removed and placed in bins. Passengers also need to remove winter coats, blazers, suit coats and bulky sweaters.
• Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. Declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
• When in doubt, leave it out. Bringing prohibited items to the airport will delay the screening process for you and other passengers. If you're not sure which items are allowed, check TSA's Web site for a complete list: Permitted and Prohibited Items.
• Think before you speak. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated. They will result in delays and possibly missing your flight. Local law enforcement may be called as necessary.

SimpliFLY in Other Languages

• Arabic (pdf, 215Kb)
• Dutch (pdf, 111Kb)
• French (pdf, 127Kb)
• German (pdf, 113Kb)
• Hebrew (pdf, 242Kb)
• Italian (pdf, 127Kb)
• Japanese (pdf, 227Kb)
• Korean (pdf, 275Kb)
• Portugese (pdf, 142Kb)
• Punjabi (pdf, 161Kb)
• Spanish (pdf, 128Kb)

How to Pack Liquids: 3-1-1

Liquid explosives still present a threat to aviation. To speed your trip through the checkpoint, pack all of your liquids in your checked bag. If you must take liquids through the checkpoint and onto the plane, be sure to follow the 3-1-1 rules for liquids, aerosols and gels. Please keep in mind that 3-1-1 doesn’t just apply to toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste, it applies to drinks, food, liquor and perfume.

Certain items are exempt from the 3-1-1 rules because of medical necessity. Medications like insulin, cough syrup and ointments, and infant needs such as breast milk and formula may be brought through the checkpoint in reasonable quantities as long as you declare them to a security officer. Other liquid items in quantities larger than three ounces should be placed in your checked bags.

TSA 3-1-1 Travel Tips:

• 3-1-1: Three ounce containers or less, one quart zip top bag, one bag per person.
• Take your zip top bag out of your carry-on and put it in a bin.
• Declare any exempted liquids (medicine, breast milk, etc.) over 3 ounces to a security officer.
• 3-1-1 applies to holiday items like perfume, after shave, lotions, salad dressing, salsa, creamy dips, jams and jellies.
• If you are traveling to an international destination, be sure to follow rules regarding liquid duty free items like liquor and perfume.

Useful Links

• International Harmonization of Security Measures
• 3-1-1 Brochure
• 3-1-1 Brochures In Other Languages
• Permitted and Prohibited Items
• Packing Batteries and Battery-powered Devices
• DOT Travel Tips (Department of Transportation)
  
• Click here to view average checkpoint wait times. Please keep in mind that holiday periods experience a higher volume of passengers, so please factor that into your planning.

TSA's SimpliFLY Video

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